Sequence control means



May 27, 1969 E. w. VOLAND -r L 3. 3

SEQUENCE CONTROL MEANS Filed March a. 1967 INVENTORS ELMO W. VOLAND B JOSEPH E. WISER ATTORNEY 'ventionutilizes a cam means and a sponsive to the cam means to engage a clutch means United States Patent Us. Cl. 2'00. 3s 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A reaction member responsive to a cam engages a clutch connected to a motor drive shaft such that two separate elements operating olf the shaft can be independently operated while the shaft continually rotates.

of time. For example, a defroster system in modern refrigerators has a motor which drives a fan as long as the'refrigerator is operating and a separate motor driven timer for energizing heating elements and de-energizing the compressor of the refrigerator once or twice a day.

control means for a timer and has as one of its objects the provision of such a control means wherein a single motor can be 'used to drive two separate functional elements. I I v 'Another object of the invention is the provision of 'such a sequence control'm'eans wherein a single motor can be used to selectively operate a defrost timer and a fan used in conjunction 'with a refrigerator, the timer and the fan operating off of a single motor drive shaft.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of *such a sequence control means which is cam operated.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of such a sequence control means in which a spring biased reaction member responsive to such cam is used to engage and disengage clutch means.

- Another object of the invention isthe provision of such a sequence control means in which such reaction member includes tang means adapted to engage tang mean of a clutch spring means.

Still another objectof the invention is the provision 'of *a sequence control means which'is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and reliable.

With the above and other objects in veiw, which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in a novel sequence "control means substantially as described herein and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise 'embodirnent of the invention here disclosed may be made. For illustrative'purposes the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in 'which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a'timer mechanism embodying the novel sequence control means which is partially shown in'an exploded portion; and FIGURE 2 is a front view of the timer showing a front view of the novel sequence control means. 7

' Generally speaking, the invention relates toa timing mechanism wherein a single motor can be used to drive two separate 'fuctional elements using a novel sequence control means whereby the elements are. independently operable. The sequence control means of thepresentinreaction member recarried' by a shaft means which extends through a high The-present invention is concerned with a sequence Patented May 27, 1969 .invention is useful includes a motor means 10 contained in a two sectioned housing 11 and 12, a first speed reduction means contained in housing 13, a second speed reduction means contained in housing 14 and 15, and timer programming means also contained in housing 15. Motor means 10 is a high speed motor normally used in timing mechanisms such as defrosters for refrigerators, for example. The gear train system contained in housing 13 which makes up the first speed reducing means is composed of pinions and gears normally used in the art. The second speed reduction means carried in housings 14 and 15 is preferably of the wobble gear drive type disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 505,570, filed Oct. 28, 1965, now Patent No. 3,353,426, in the names of Joseph E. Wiser and Elmo W. Voland. The programming means, also contained in housing 15 consists of various cam means and reaction members responsive to such cams and which are adapted to close electrical contacts normally found in timing mechanisms. As shown, a portion of housing 15 is made up of terminal board 16 having electrical terminals 17 such that an electrical circuit can be completed to the electrical contacts associated with the programming means. Terminals 19 (one shown) connects the motor means to a suitable power outlet.

Motor drive shaft means 18, which extends through the motor means 10 through drive bushing 18a, drives two separate functional elements. From one end of the shaft means the programming means is driven through the speed reduction means, while from the opposite end of the shaft means the other element, in the present case a fan 20, is driven. Fan 20 is rotatably fitted to the shaft means 18 through clutch bushing 21 and hub 22, the bushing with the fan being held onto the shaft means through retaining ring 24 which fits into slot 23. These two elements, the fan and the programming means, can be independently operated off the single shaft means 18 while the motor means 10 is continually running. This is accomplished by-seque'nce control means 25.

Sequence control means 25, 'in general, comprises cam means 26, reaction member 27 responsive to such cam means and clutch means 28. Reaction member 27 is spring-biased through tension spring 29. Cam means 26 which is carried by a shaft carrying the programming means in housing 15, has a notch 30 adapted to engage a corresponding wedge 31 extending from reaction member 27. The setting of the notch with respect to the wedge for proper timing of the reaction member is accomplished by manual adjustment of the cam by means of adjustment slot 32. The reaction member is suspended by tension spring 29 and is held in alignment by yoke means 33 and an aperture (not shown) in the bottom portion 34 of housing 15.

Clutch means 28, as shown in the present embodiment of the invention, comprises a spring clutch 35. The inside diameter of the spring is such that the opposite ends of the spring fit snugly over first and second engaging portions 36 and 37 of the bushings 18a .and 21 such that spring clutch 35 rotates as the shaft 18 rotates. Included as a part of reaction member 27 is tang means 38 adapted to engage tang means 39 of spring clutch 35. Upon rotation of the cam, reaction member 27 moves upward with the wedge 31 moving into notch 30 as the wedge approaches the notch. This causes tang means 38 to become engaged with tang means 39 of spring clutch 35. When the spring clutch is so engaged, the diameter of the spring at the engaging portion 36 increases, allowing drive bushing 18a to slip, thus the spring clutch 35 is disengaged and drive bushing 37 will no longer rotate. Thus fan 20 will no longer rotate even though shaft means 18 and 18a continue to rotate. Continued rotation of cam means 26 causes wedge 31 of the reaction member 27 to follow the outer periphery of the cam means. The lowering of the reaction member causes disengagement of tang means 39 from tang means 38 thus causing spring clutch 35 to again fit snugly at the engaging portion 36 such that the clutch is engaged. Fan 20 now rotates.

Functionally, then, the present invention provides a sequence control means for a timing mechanism wherein two separate elements can function independently even though they operate off of a single drive shaft which is continually rotating. As another feature of the invention, the first speed reduction means contained in housing 13 is arranged such that it is substantially normal to the drive shaft means 18. This permits the timing mechanism to be more compact.

The sequence control means of the present invention, as hereinbefore described in one of its embodiments, is merely illustrative and not exhaustive in scope. Since many widely different embodiments may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interposed as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a timer wherein two separate elements must be independently operable off of a continuously rotating motor drive shaft, a sequence control means selectively controlling said elements comprising, cam means and a spring biased reaction member responsive to said cam means, said reaction member adapted to engage a clutch means carried by a motor drive shaft means extending through a high speed motor and which drives two separate functional elements, one of said elements rotatably carried by said shaft means such that as said clutch means is engaged by said reaction member said clutch becomes disengaged and said element is held free of rotation from said drive shaft.

2. In a timer wherein two separate elements must be independently operable off of a continuously rotating motor drive shaft, a sequence control means selectively controlling said elements comprising, cam means and a spring biased reaction member responsive to said cam means, a spring clutch means carried by a motor drive shaft means extending through a high speed motor and which drives two separate functional elements, one of said elements rotatably carried by said shaft means, said reaction member having tang means adapted to engage tang means carried by said spring clutch means such that as said spring clutch means is engaged by said reaction member said spring clutch becomes disengaged and said element is held free of rotation from said drive shaft.

3. In a timer wherein two separate elements must be independently operable off of a continuously rotating motor drive shaft, a sequence control means selectively controlling said elements comprising, cam means and a spring biased reaction member responsive to said cam means, motor drive shaft means extending through a high speed motor and which drives two separate functional elements from opposite ends of the shaft, one of said elements rotatably carried by said shaft means through a bushing, a spring clutch surrounding said shaft and having its ends snugly mated respectively to a clutch bushing carried by said shaft, and said bushing carrying said element, said reaction member having tang means adapted to engage tang means carried by said spring clutch wereby said spring is increased in diameter at said clutch bushing whereby said spring clutch is disengaged 4 and said element is held free of rotation from said drive shaft means.

4. A defrost timer comprising:

(a) motor means for such timer at least partially contained in a housing;

(b) drive shaft means extending through said motor;

(c) first speed reduction means connected to one end of said drive shaft means;

(d) second speed reduction means connected to said first speed reduction means;

(e) timer programming means adapted to close electrical circuits and being driven by said motor means through said speed reduction means;

(f) a fan rotatably connected to the other end of said drive shaft means; and

(g) sequence control means enabling said programming means and said fan to be independently operated while said drive shaft means is continuously rotated comprising cam means, a spring biased reaction member responsive to said cam means, clutch means disposed between said motor and said fan, said reaction member adapted to engage said clutch means such that said clutch means is disengaged and said fan is held free from the rotation of said drive shaft means.

5. A defrost timer comprising:

(a) motor means for such timer;

(b) drive shaft means extending through said motor;

(c) first speed reduction means connected to one end of said drive shaft means;

(d) second speed reduction means connected to said first speed reduction means;

(e) timer programming means adapted to close electrical circuits and being driven by said motor means through said speed reduction means;

(f) a fan rotatably connected to the other end of said drive shaft means; and

(g) sequence control means enabling said programming means and said fan to be independently operable while said drive shaft means is continuously rotated comprising cam means, a spring biased reaction member responsive to said cam means, spring clutch means surrounding said shaft means and disposed between said fan and said motor and cooperatively coupled thereto, tang means carried by said shaft means and adapted to engage tang means carried by said spring clutch so as to engage said clutch such that said clutch means becomes disengaged and causes said fan to be held free of rotation from said drive shaft.

6. A defrost timer according to claim 4 in which said first speed reduction means is substantially normal to said drive shaft means.

7. A sequence control means for a timer wherein two separate functional elements can be independently operated off of a single motor drive shaft comprising:

(a) rotating cam means having a wedge shaped notch formed in its periphery;

(b) a spring biased reaction member responsive to said cam means through a wedge extending from said reaction member, said reaction member further having a yoke adapted to engage drive shaft means extending through a timer motor means;

(c) said drive shaft means having connected thereto separate functional elements at opposed ends of said shaft;

((1) one of said elements rotatably connected to said shaft through a bushing;

(e) a spring clutch surrounding said shaft and disposed between said rotatably connected element and said motor means, said spring clutch snugly mated to said bushing and to clutch bushing at its opposite end, and

(f) tang means carried by said spring biased reaction member adapted to engage tang means extending from said spring clutch whereby when said tang 5 6 means of said reaction member engages said tang 2,700,878 2/1955 Brown. means of said spring clutch, said spring clutch ex- 2,701,480 2/1955 Duncan. pands from mating said clutch bushing thereby dis- 3,001,036 9/1961 Everard. engaging said spring clutch allowing said rotatable 3,107,281 10/1963 Tufts. element to be free from the rotation of said shaft 5 e ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

References H. O. JONES, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,674,665 4/1954 Raney et 211. 2,675,536 4/1954 Schlaf 33544 10 62-233 US. Cl. X.R. 

